Vehicle drop-brake.



No. 774,685. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904. U. A. MILLER.

VEHICLE DROP BRAKE;

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1904.

H0 MODEL.

CHAR-LES A. MILLER, OF HAZLETON,

Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT. OFFICE.

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO EDWVIN S. YOUSE, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.-

VEHICLE DR OP-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 774,685, dated November 8, 1904.

Application filed May 17, 1904. Serial No. 208,347. (No model.)

.To all whom it rnmy concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hazleton, county of Luzerne, State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Drop-Brakes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to drop-brakes intended particularly for locking vehicles against retrograde movement; and my main object is to provide an improved device adapted to be directly and easily attached to any vehicle-axle.

The invention is fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features are specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 shows a vehicle-axle in cross-section with my improved drop-bar device attached thereto, the outline of the vehiclewheel and the rope or chain connection for raising or lowering the bar being indicated. Fig. Qis a plan view of the device attached to the axle. Fig. 3 is a separate View of the attaching-strap, showing the axle-band partially connected thereto.

A represents the axle of a vehicle, which may be of any ordinary cross-section, though usually circular, as shown.

B represents the periphery of the vehiclewheel, and O the ground-line.

D indicates a chain to any suitable means whereby the drop-bar E may be raised or lowered, as required.

The body portion 1 of the drop-bar is suitably formed to provide the requisite strength, and its foot end 2 is properly pointed to engage the ground. The essential feature of my invention consists in the form of the head portion 3 and in the means provided for conveniently attaching the same to the axle. This head 3, as shown, is formed with an open V-shaped bearing end, the bearing-faces 4L 4 of which are arranged at an angle of ninety degrees and are adapted when pressed against the axle to practically centralize the strain conveyed to the latter through the drop-bar, notwithstanding variations in the size or crosssection of the axle. To provide for satisfactorily attaching the drop-bar to the axle with- 5 out requiring any special provision for the purpose in the axle itself, I preferably form upon the head 3 a flange 5 and employ in connection therewith an axle-attaching strap 6, having an opening 7, whereby it is strung upon the drop-bar to engage said flange, and buckle ends 8 9 adapted to be adjustably secured around the axle, and thereby attach the dropbar to the latter. While this strap alone provides not only a very convenient and generally satisfactory attachment of the dropbar to the axle, I preferably employ in connection therewith an axle-band 10, interposed between the V-shapcd head of the bar and the axle and carried by the strap 6, the buckle 5 ends 8 9 of which are, as shown, passed through engaging strips 11 11 of the band. The latter thus forms a lining between the head of the drop-bar and the axle. The effect of this attaching means is to insure a firm yet prop- 7 erly-yielding connection which permits of the required movement of the bar, while at the same time preventing displacement or objectionable noise or wear. The device may obviously be readily applied by any one to any axle without requiring any change whatever to the latter.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. In a vehicle drop-brake a drop-bar having a V-shaped axle-engaging head, and an axle-attaching strap secured to said head.

2. In a vehicle drop-brake a drop-bar having a V- shaped axle-engaging head formed with a strap-engaging flange, and an axle-attaching strap strung upon said bar to engage 5 said flange.

3. In a vehicle drop-brake a drop-bar having an open-end axle-engaging head formed 'with a strap-engaging flange, an axle-attachlng strap strung upon said bar to engage said 9 flange. and an axle-inclosing band carried by said strap.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. MILLER. lVitnesses:

E. S. YoUsn, D. M. STEWART. 

